The royal martyr, or, The history of the life and death of King Charles I

His MAJESTIES Declaration After the Votes of no further Address. Carisbrook, Jan. 18. M DC XLVII.

To all My People, of whatsoever Nation, Quality or Condition.

AM I thus laid aside? and must I not speak for My self? No: I will speak, and that to all My People, (which I would have rather done by the way of My two Houses of Parliament, but that there is a publick Order, neither to make Addresses to, or receive Mes∣sages from me.) And who but you can be judge of the differences betwixt Me and My two Houses? I know none else: for I am sure you it is who will enjoy the Happiness, or feel the Misery of good or ill Government; and we all pretend who should run fastest to serve you, without having a regard (at least in the first place) to particular Interests. And therefore I desire you to consider the state I am and have

been in this long time, and whether My Actions have more tended to the Publick or My own particular good. For whosoever will look up∣on Me barely as I am a Man, without that liber∣ty (which the meanest of My Subjects enjoyes) of going whither, and conversing with whom I will; as a Husband and Father, without the comfort of My Wife and Children; or lastly as a King, without the least shew of Authority or Power to protect My distressed Subjects; must conclude Me not only void of all Natural Affe∣ction, but also to want common understanding, if I should not most chearfully embrace the rea∣diest way to the settlement of these distracted Kingdoms. As also on the other side, do but consider the form and draught of the Bills late∣ly presented unto Me, and as they are the Con∣ditions of a Treaty, ye will conclude, that the same Spirit which hath still been able to fru∣strate all My sincere and constant endeavours for Peace, hath had a powerfull influence on this Message. For though I was ready to grant the substance, and comply with what they seem to desire; yet as they had framed it, I could not agree thereunto, without deeply wounding My Conscience and Honour, and betraying the Trust reposed in Me, by abandoning My People to the Arbitrary and Unlimited Power of the two Houses for ever, for the levying and maintain∣ing of Land or Sea Forces, without distinction of quality or limitation for Money taxes. And if I could have passed them in terms, how un∣heard-of

a Condition were it for a Treaty to grant beforehand the most considerable part of the subject matter? How ineffectual were that debate like to prove, wherein the most potent Party had nothing of moment left to ask, and the other nothing more to give? so, conse∣quently, how hopeless of mutual compliance? without which a settlement is impossible. Be∣sides, if after My Concessions the two Houses should insist on those things from which I can∣not depart, how desperate would the condition of these Kingdoms be, when the most proper and approved remedy should become ineffe∣ctual? Being therefore fully resolved that I could neither in Conscience, Honour or Pru∣dence, pass those Four Bills; I only endeavour∣ed to make the Reasons and Justice of my De∣nial appear to all the World, as they do to me, intending to give as little dis-satisfaction to the two Houses of Parliament (without betraying My own Cause) as the matter would bear: I was desirous to give My Answer of the 28. of December last to the Commissioners sealed, (as I had done others heretofore, and sometimes at the desire of the Commissioners) chiefly, because when My Messages or Answers were publickly known before they were read in the Houses, prejudicial interpretations were forced on them, much differing, and sometimes contrary to My meaning. For example, My Answer from Ham∣pton-Court was accused of dividing the two Na∣tions, because I promised to give satisfaction to

the Scots in all things concerning that Kingdom: And this last suffers in a contrary sense, by ma∣king Me intend to interest Scotland in the Laws of this Kingdom, (than which nothing was, nor is, further from My thoughts) because I took notice of the Scots Commissioners protesting a∣gainst the Bills and Propositions, as contrary to the Interests and Engagements of the two King∣doms. Indeed, if I had not mentioned their dissent, an Objection, not without some proba∣bility, might have been made against Me, both in respect the Scots are much concern'd in the Bill for the Militia, and in several other Propo∣sitions; and My silence might, with some Ju∣stice, have seemed to approve of it: But the Commissioners refusing to receive My Answer sealed, I (upon the engagement of their and the Governours Honour, that no other use should be made or notice taken of it than as if it had not been seen) read and delivered it open unto them; whereupon what hath since passed, ei∣ther by the Governour, in discharging most of My Servants, redoubling the Guards, and re∣straining Me of My former Liberty, (and all this, as himself confest, meerly out of his own dislike of My Answer, notwithstanding his beforesaid Engagement) or afterwards by the two Houses, (as the Governour affirms) in confining Me with∣in the circuit of this Castle, I appeal to God and the World, whether My said Answer deserved the reply of such proceedings; besides the un∣lawfulness for Subjects to imprison their King,

That by the permission of Almighty God I am reduced to this sad condition, as I no way re∣pine; so I am not without hope, but that the same God will in due time convert these Affli∣ctions into My advantage. In the mean time, I am confident to bear these crosses with Patience, and a great Equality of Mind. But by what means or occasion I am come to this Relapse in My Affairs, I am utterly to seek; especially when I consider, that I have sacrificed to My two Houses of Parliament, for the Peace of the King∣dom, all but what is much more dear to Me than My Life, My Conscience and Honour; desiring nothing more than to perform it in the most pro∣per and natural way, a Personal Treaty. But that which makes Me most at a loss is, the re∣membring My signal compliance with the Army and their Interests: and of what importance My compliance was to them, and their often-repeat∣ed Professions and Ingagements for my just Rights in general, at Newmarket and S. Albans, and their particular explanation of those gene∣rals by their voted and re-voted Proposals, which I had reason to understand should be the utmost extremity would be expected from Me, and that in some things therein I should be eased; (here∣in appealing to the Consciences of some of the chiefest Officers in the Army, if what I have said be not punctually true) and how I have failed of their expectations, or My professions to them, I challenge them and the whole World to pro∣duce the least colour of Reason. And now I

would know what it is that is desired. Is it Peace? I have shewed the way, (being both wil∣ling and desirous to perform my part in it) which is, a just compliance with all chief Interests. Is it Plenty and Happiness? They are the insepa∣rable effects of Peace. Is it Security? I, who wish that all men would forgive and forget like Me, have offered the Militia for My time. Is it Liberty of Conscience? He who wants it is most ready to give it. Is it the right admini∣stration of Justice? Officers of trust are commit∣ted to the choice of My two Houses of Parlia∣ment. Is it frequent Parliaments? I have legal∣ly, fully concurr'd therewith. Is it the Arrears of the Army? Upon a settlement they will cer∣tainly be paid with much ease, but before there will be found much difficulty, if not impossibi∣lity, in it.

Thus all the World cannot but see My real and unwearied endeavours for Peace, the which (by the grace of God) I shall neither repent Me of nor ever be slackned in, notwithstanding My past, present, or future sufferings: But if I may not be heard, let every one judge who it is that obstructs the good I would or might do. What is it that men are afraid to hear from Me? It cannot be Reason, (at least, none will declare themselves so unreasonable as to confess it:) and it can less be impertinent or unreasonable Dis∣courses; for thereby, peradventure, I might more justifie this My Restraint than the causers

themselves can do: so that of all wonders yet this is the greatest to Me. But it may be easily gathered how those men intend to govern who have used Me thus. And if it be My hard Fate to fall together with the Liberty of this King∣dom, I shall not blush for My self, but much la∣ment the future Miseries of My People, the which I shall still pray to God to avert, whatever becomes of Me.

CHARLES R.